Seattle Musical Theatre announces inaugural SecondSeason with the production of Don Giovanni: A New Musical by young and brilliant Seattle [and even more local, Maple Leaf as I understand it] native Jesse Smith.
Seattle Musical Theatre, for the first time in their 33 year history, premiers an original work, giving a unique opportunity to a promising Seattle artist: Jesse Smith in collaboration with Seattle Musical Theatre and Fruition Productions presents the first professional production of this completely re-envisioned classic tale of love, murder, and revenge. Over a full three-week run featuring 9 performances this exceptional production with an entirely local, talented troupe is sure to touch the souls of this city’s highly discerning modern-day audience.
Don Giovanni: A New Musical is based on the 1787 opera of the same name by W. A. Mozart. With a brand new score that mixes modern musical theatre style music with theatrical and operatic influences, Jesse Smith transports this well-known story to the era of the 1920s in Spain. Its rich characters and the power of the musical are sure to captivate Seattle’s audience with this ever compelling tale of murder, passion and human relationships. The story is woven around the path of seduction and quandary of an inveterate rake who stays true to himself even in the face of death and damnation.
Showtimes:
January 7 – 23, 2011
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
For tickets please call the box office at 206-363-2809
or visit www.seattlemusicaltheatre.org
Tickets are $25-$30.
Students & seniors $20 – $25.
The upstairs lobby bar will be open at all performances!
Seattle Musical Theatre is located in Magnuson Park in Seattle:
7400 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, 98115.
Plenty of free parking is available.
The stage design by Joshua Tillman is a fascinating parallel to the inner and outer conflict that the characters are experiencing. It conveys a gripping sense of limbo: El Greco’s “Toledo” and Escher’s art of twisting the observer’s perception are the inspiration for the set. Moveable scene pieces symbolize pawns in a game or cogs in a machine, and their understated colors stand in stark contrast to the vibrant costumes. Kelly McDonald and Helena Stitzel designed the beautiful 1920s’ outfits. Their bright, vivacious colors and folkloristic ornaments highlight the plot’s setting in Spain.
At the age of 22, the former Cornish student Jesse Smith has already written and composed three musicals. Don Giovanni: A New Musical is his second work and was
written in 2009. Inspired by Mozart from his early childhood, he felt this story was screaming for a re-birth: “I fell in love with Don Giovanni when I heard the finale in a scene from Amadeus. I was four years old and I still remember the moment I heard the piece.” Jesse Smith will be the music director for the show. Teaming up with him as the director is current Cornish student Sara Porkalob who directed the Cornish College production. Fellow Cornish student Katherine Jett. All seventeen performing actors are local talents.
Seattle Musical Theatre is collaborating with Fruition Productions, whose primary mission is to create a generative outlet for artists of any field to collaborate. As a student interest group sponsored by Cornish College of the Arts they provide a means to produce their works on campus and in the community. Fruition Productions has recently acquired their 501(c)3 non-profit status.
Seattle Musical Theatre is the only local theatre that strictly produces musicals. The company feels strongly about helping produce fresh, new works and is going beyond the standard repertoire to present Northwest premieres, including Into the Woods, Evita, Ragtime and the critically-acclaimed Jane Eyre, the Musical. The company also seeks to produce rarely seen shows, most recently 110 in the Shade, the beautiful musical version of the classic film, The Rainmaker.
Artists:
Director: Sara Porkalob
Musical Director: Jesse Smith
Choreography: Katherine Jett
Scenic Design: Joshua Tillman
Costume Design: Kelly McDonald & Helena Stitzel
Lighting Design: Brandon Chapman
Sound Design: James Shield
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